Biography of Jacob ErkenbeckVan Buren County, MI Biographies

This gentlemanís life has been comparatively uneventful, so far as concerns the public, or society in general,
and yet he has taken his full share of lifeís burdens and duties, and performed them faithfully, although unostentatiously.
As one of the early settlers of this portion of Van Buren County, he is entitled to honorable mention. He was a
native of the State of New York, and was born March 18, 1801. Dec. 19, 1824, he was married to Helen Cole, who
survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Erkenbeck were the parents of eight children, as follows: Cornelius, born Oct. 18, 1825;
Maria, born June 25, 1827, died Aug. 22, 1866; Eleanor, born Nov. 17, 1829; Catharine, born Nov. 25, 1831; Wilham,
born Feb. 10, 1834; Nicholas, born Feb. 25, 1836, died May 23, 1866; Martin, born Sept. 14, 1838; John, born June
1, 1845.

In the fall of 1846, Mr. Erkenbeck removed to Michigan with his family, and settled on the farm now occupied by
bis widow. He purchased eighty acres of land, and paid for it by trading off his team and wagon. It was very much
of a struggle for him to take care of his family, but he finally triumphed over hardships and difficulties, and
at his death, which occurred Nov. 8, 1877, hc left them in good circumstances. His occupation was that of a farmer,
and in it he was ultimately successful. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.